The Justice Department’s report on the botched gun-walking operation Fast and Furious is expected no later than Tuesday morning, according to a report by CNN.
Inspector General Michael Horowitz has finished the report and has been circulating it to the agencies involved. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa has asked Horowitz to testify before his committee to discuss the findings on Tuesday morning.
The report is expected to lay much of the blame for the failed operation with leads of the Phoenix field office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Tobacco.
Michael Horowitz
The Justice Department declined to comment to CNN on Tuesday. CNN reported that confidential sources within the ATF say the report is consistent with the narrative provided by ATF officials in headquarters. The report is expected to find that high-level Washington officials were kept in the dark while the Phoenix field office developed and carried out the operation, CNN reports.
Issa (R-Calif.) has lead the congressional inquiry into the department’s handling of the gun-walking operation for the past 18 months. Attorney General Eric Holder was found in contempt of Congress earlier this summer after refusing to hand over a number of documents to the committee.
Holder said their disclosure could hurt the integrity of ongoing investigations, while Issa and other GOP committee members said he was “stonewalling” their investigation.
Holder has said he is waiting for the Inspector General’s report before taking any action against those who are involved in the operation.
Issa said that Horowitz would testify Sept. 11 at 9:30 a.m. in the Rayburn House Office Building.
“For a year and a half, Attorney General Eric Holder has cited the ongoing Inspector General investigation as his reason for declining to hold those responsible for reckless conduct in Operation Fast and Furious to account. Next week, this excuse for delaying action ends,” Issa said in a statement. “Although I am concerned that the Justice Department has not given the Inspector General full and unfettered access to all relevant information, Inspector General Horowitz’s report and testimony should add to the understanding of the operation and numerous related management failures at the Department.”
